The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for disability support and services for Australians. Participants, those who are eligible and granted access to the NDIS, have their own unique NDIS plan. An NDIS plan summarises your goals and the disability support you require to achieve these goals. It also states the funding you will receive for the disability services.
Your NDIS plan is not fixed for life. As your life changes, your plan should too to address your changing needs. Though quite confusing and challenging at first, creating a well-thought of NDIS plan can help you get the most out of it. Below are the steps in creating a good NDIS plan.
1. Get ready for your NDIS planning meeting.
If you’re eligible for access to the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or your local partner will contact you to schedule your planning meeting for your NDIS plan.
Your NDIS plan should be all about you. It should reflect who you are, what you hope to achieve, and what your values are. Your plan will also be based on your experiences and interests.
To prepare for this:
- Ask someone who knows you well, like a family member or friend, to attend your planning meeting with you;
- Do your research to learn more about the NDIS and what kinds of supports and services can be funded.
- Reflect about the things you do in your daily routines, the goals you want to achieve, and the supports or services you need to do these.
- Research on different service providers near you and ask for quotes for the services you need.
- Ask someone trustworthy to manage your plan funding.
- Prepare and have ready some basic information for your planning meeting, like your bank details and any letters you’ve received from the NDIA
2. Figure out what your support needs are.
Write in a journal the tasks and activities you do on a daily basis inside and outside of your home. Ideally, include a timetable. Your planner will use this information to determine what support and services you need for your home or yourself. This may include any equipment, accommodation, transport, or help from a support worker for performance of tasks.
Make sure you emphasise to your planner the NDIS support and services which you think will help achieve your goals. Focus on both present circumstances and your future needs.
Also, if you think you will be having difficulty in putting your plan in place, consider asking your planner about support coordination. Support coordination is a funded support where a support coordinator can help you understand and use your NDIS plan efficiently.
3. Discuss the existing support that you have.
Your planner will ask about your existing support such as family, friends, health care, job, and your social activities.
If you already have existing service providers for your disability needs prior to accessing the NDIS, discuss it with your planner too.
4. Plan your NDIS budget.
Every person with disabilities has different needs. Because of this, every person will also get different types of NDIS funding based on the supports they need.
There are three main support funding participants can get if approved:
- Core support- funding for daily activities, transportation support, and access to community and social activities.
- Capacity building support- funding for skills training, employment counselling, learning, and social and community participation.
- Capital support- funding for home modification and assistive technology
Bring and discuss with your planner the quotes from the service providers to help make a well-structured budget.
5. Plan your NDIS fund management.
During your planning meeting, you will also be discussing how you want your NDIS funding to be managed. You can choose among self-management, plan management, or agency management:
- Self-management- your close family members manages your plan
- Plan management- your chosen NDIS provider takes control of the funding and expenses
- Agency management- the NDIA will provide you with an NDIS registered service provider.
If you decide on any of the three, the services you choose and the budget will always be in your control.
6. Get your NDIS approved plan.
Once approved, your NDIS plan will be available on the NDIS portal for 24 hours. Your plan manager should also send you an email copy and print out your plan in different formats, such as electronic text on CD, large print or audio on CD, or in Braille. If English is not your native language, the copies will be translated.
Zeal Disability: Helping You Make the Most of Your NDIS Plan
In need of disability support services in Melbourne? Zeal Disability, an NDIS provider for supports for mental health and developmental disabilities should be at the top of your list. We provide the following NDIS services: accommodation tenancy, assist personal activities, assist travel or transport, daily tasks, development life skills, household tasks, participate community, group and centre activities, and innovative community participation.
Contact us now and let us provide you with support services that embody respect, compassion, and honesty.